--- title: "Rogelio Valdez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rogelio-valdez-8386" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Rogelio Valdez Court of Appeals of Texas · Judge ## Profile - Court: Court of Appeals of Texas - State: Texas - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Court of Appeals of Texas, 2000-present - Chief Justice, Texas Thirteenth Court of Appeals: Elected November 7, 2000 — the first Hispanic person elected to this role — and re‐elected in 2006 and 2012 - 357th District Court (Cameron & Willacy Counties): held the role of district judge from 1987 to 2000, also as local presiding judge for Cameron and Willacy Counties (1991–2000) - County Court at Law No. 1 (Cameron County): Elected judge, 1983–1986 - Early career: Valdez began in private legal practice in Houston in 1979, then held the role of an assistant district attorney in Cameron County (1980–1981) - In summary: Rogelio Valdez is a distinguished Texas jurist with a long career in trial and appellate courts, most recently serving as Chief Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals, and now acting as a senior justice in Cameron County’s district court for limited assignments ### Education - Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, in — J.D. (1979) - Texas A&M University — 1976 - Texas A & M University-Kingsville — B.A. ### Additional information - As of mid‐2026, Valdez is Senior Justice assigned to preside over the general docket of the 484th Judicial District Court in Cameron County, Texas for specific dates in July 2026, per an official order from the Presiding Judge of the Fifth Administrative Judicial Region. - He did not seek re‐election in 2018. - Judicial record: Authored 242 published opinions for the Texas Court of Appeals (2001–2017) plus 2 dissents; most cited case is Branton v. - Wood (163 citations). - Texas Judges Association ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### oral argument purpose Scope: courtwide Use oral argument to emphasize and clarify the briefs, not merely read prepared text; assume the panel has read the briefs, be ready for questions, and stay within the record. Evidence excerpt: Oral argument should emphasize and clarify the written arguments in the briefs. Counsel should not merely read from prepared text. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument time Scope: courtwide The court sets argument time. Finish within the allotment unless the court permits continuation; the appellant must be allowed to conclude. Evidence excerpt: Counsel must complete argument in the time allotted and may continue after the expiration of the allotted time only with permission of the court. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### number of arguing counsel Scope: courtwide Generally one lawyer should argue for each side. Without leave, no more than two may argue per side, and only one may present rebuttal. Evidence excerpt: Generally, only one counsel should argue for each side. Except on leave of court, no more than two counsel on each side may argue. Only one counsel may argue in rebuttal. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument request Scope: courtwide Request oral argument on the front cover of the brief. If argument is set, all parties that filed briefs may participate even if they did not request it. Evidence excerpt: A party desiring oral argument must note that request on the front cover of the party’s brief. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument notice Scope: courtwide The clerk's notice states whether argument is allowed, the date, allotted time, location or electronic-joining instructions, exhibit instructions, and panel members. Evidence excerpt: The clerk must send to the parties—at least 21 days before the date the case is set for argument or submission without argument—a notice telling the parties: [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8386/rogelio-valdez/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8386/rogelio-valdez/) - [Court of Appeals of Texas current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8386/rogelio-valdez/) - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8386/rogelio-valdez/) - [Rogelio Valdez - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rogelio_Valdez) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rogelio-valdez-8386", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rogelio-valdez-8386", "name": "Rogelio Valdez | KnowJudges", "description": "Rogelio Valdez, Court of Appeals of Texas. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.